Box or receptacle for holding crackers or the like.



No. 760,043. PATENTED MAY 17, 1904. B. B. VANDER VEER. BOX 0R RECEPTAGLE FOR HOLDING CRAGKERS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 31, 1902.

u mm1/IW i l fw ITNEssEs: 1 I mvENToR j r y eryaffnwa. Wm Ie/Ver AUORNEY ma Monms viren'. co. mum-Luna4 wsmumm` n c UNITED STATES Patented May 1'?, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN B. VANDER VEER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. r760,043, dated May 17, 1904.

Application file".` December 31, 1902. Serial No. 137,268. (No model.)

To all 12171/0771. t may concern:

Be itknown that I, BENJAMIN B. VANDER Vnnma citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Receptacles for Holding Crackers or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in boxes or receptacles for holding crackers and the like;4 and it consists in the novel features, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention is illustrated in this application in a tin box or receptacle to be used in stores for holding crackers, small cakes, and the like and from which the crackers are from time to time withdrawn in varying quantities as sold. These tin boxes or receptacles are packed with the crackers and small cakes by the manufacturer, and after being suitably labeled are delivered to the grocer, the latter retaining the same until the contents of the boxes or receptacles havebeen sold, whereupon the boxes or receptacles are returned to the manufacturer. These boxes or receptacles are usually arranged upon shelves in retailA stores, and it is desirable that the nature of the contents of the box or receptacle may be, observable by simply looking at a transparent surface at the front of the box.

The most approved box or receptacle of the class to which my invention pertains at present in use is of rectangular outline and has a top hinged near the front edge of the box, a large rectangular pane of glass set within a bordering-frame extending around the front edges of the box, and a vertical hinged partition of tin within the box and set about two inches to the rear of the front pane of glass, the box being provided with a hinged latch for holding the said partition in avertical position. In the employment of this well-known form of tin box or receptacle the crackers or cakes to be sold are packed on edge between the .front glass pane and the hinged partition, so as to form a facing or exhibit observable through the glass front, and thereafter the remaining portion of the box or receptacle is packed with the crackers. The grocer in selling the goods will first sell from the main body of the box or receptacle, so as not to disturb the facing' between the glass pane and the inner hinged partition, and thereafter he will sell the crackers which have been used for the facing or exhibit from between the glass pane and the hinged partition. substantially necessary that the grocer should sell the crackers constituting the aforesaid facing or exhibit, because they represent a considerable percentage of the con tents of the entire box, and he in dealing with the manufacturer is charged for them. p

My invention has for'its object the over; coming of the very serious existing' objections to the cracker box or receptacle above referred to as being in common use. Among these objections it may be mentioned that the crackers or cakes arranged between the inner partition and glass front become exposed to the light and to the air and dust entering the loose joint surrounding the edges of the pane of glass and that the retail purchaser of the crackers or cakes constituting the exhibit receives goods which have become deteriorated by time and exposure. In addition, in the building up of the facing for the exhibitor front of the boxes or receptacles many of the crackers are cut or broken in half, sothat the rows of crackers may extend completelyacross the front of the box, and these broken crackers are sold to the customer with the whole ones. It is deemed necessary that the grocer allow the crackers constituting the exhibit to remain between the inner partition and the `glass front of the box until all of the other 'crackers have been sold, because not to dose means that theexhibit or facing becomes broken down and no longer serves it purpose. A further objection to the heretoforev existing cracker boxes or receptacles is that the top thereof is hinged at the front of the box and that hence the entire box must be withdrawn from a shelf before the said top can be opened. Another objection to the existing form of cracker-boxes is that no provision is made for conveniently withdrawing them outward from a shelf, and with the use of the customary cracker-boxes a grocer will upon withdrawing IOO the box from a shelf force the ends of his fingers between the glass frontof the box and the surrounding rimv for said front, so as to get a sufficient hold on the box to` enable him.

to withdraw it from the shelf, and in carrying out this action the fingers of the grocer' naturally press the glass front inward against the facing or exhibit of crackers and the like,

and this tends to break down the exhibit andl injure the goods and in addition creates a.

carrying. out which I preserve the usual rectangular form of the box and provide the box with ahingedr top. and a facing or exhibit of the crackers or other contents of the box; but at the same time I obviate all of the abovementioned objections to the heretofore existing cracker boxes or-receptacles, as will more fully appear-from the detailed description of my invention hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a box or receptacle embracing my invention, the independent front affording the exhibit being in position. Fig. 2 is a like view of same, with the independent front aording the facing or exhibit omitted. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of same on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detached view of the inner side of the independent front of the box or receptacle, a portion of the backing for the cracker exhibit being broken away.

In the drawings, 10 designates the main body of the box or receptacle, and 11 the independent front thereof, said front affording the facing or exhibit and having an opening 12, preferably circular in outline, covered by a glass or other transparent pane 13. The body 10 of. the box or receptacle is preferably of rectangular outline and of suitable 'dimensions to afford the requisite capacityv for the crackers or other material to be placed therein. The body 10, while carrying the front 11, is, so farl as its` capacity is concerned,` independent of said front, and the said body 10 is provided with a top 14, adapted to close the same in an eiicient manner, said top 14 being secured to the rear edge ofthe top of the body 10 by means of a hinge 15, thelatter enabling the opening of the body 10 by turning the cover 14 upwardly and rearwardly. lThe front edge of the top 14 is preferably formed with a hinged ring 16 for convenience in raising thefront edge of said top, and the purpose of hinging the ring 16 is to enable it to be turned downwardly flat upon the top 14, so that it may not form an obstruction when the box is moved inwardly between two closely-fitting shelves in a store. 1

rIhe front 11 is of rectangular outline conforming to the general outline of thefront of the body 10, so that when said front 11 is applied to the body 10 it, in effect, forms acontinuation of said body, so that the entire structure in general appearance represents simply an integral rectangular box. The front 11 is in itself in the form of a receptacle and comprises the front plate 17, containing the opening 12 and surrounded by the edge flange 18, which when the front 11 is in position against the body 10 will engage the front edges-of said body and, 'in effect, form a continuation thereof. The front 11 is intended to be detachably secured to the body 10, so as to be carried thereby and also at the proper time to be removed therefrom, the purpose of removing the front 11 from the body 10 being to renew the facing or exhibit or vary the character thereof, as may from time to time be required. Several different means for connecting the front 11 with the body 10 have suggested themselves to me, and as a v preferred means for detachably securing the front 11 in position l illustrate in the accompanying drawings the hook 19 and Ascrew 20, by which the front 11 may be conveniently applied in a detachable manner to the body 10, the hook 19 being formed from a strip of metal turned upwardly from the lower inner edges of the front 11 and adapted to enter a loop or eye 21, carriedat the lower front edge of the body 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while the screw 20 passes freely through an aperture 22 in the plate 17 of the front 11 and is adapted at its inner threaded end to engage a threaded socket in the stationary stud 23, applied 'to the upper front portion of 'thebody 10. By loosening Y the screw 20 from the stud-23 the front 11 may be moved downwardly for the purpose of clearing the hook 19 from the loop or eye 21, and thereby detaching the front 11'from the body 10. In restoring the front 11 to the body 10 the hook 1 9 will be moved upwardly through the loop or eye 21 until the aperture 22 is in line with the threaded socket of the stud 23, and thereupon the screw 20 maybe applied to place and the front 11 effectually connected with the body 10. The screw 20 is provided with a head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,v and this head performs two important features, onebeing that it enables the convenient application of the screw while securing the front 11 in position, and the other being that it constitutes a handle by which a grocer may be enabled to conveniently withdraw the box from ofil a shelf when he desires to open the top '14 for the purpose of removing some of the contents from the body 10.

rIhe front 11 forms within itself and between its plate and the front of the box 10 a substantial chamber 24 to receive the facing or exhibit of crackers and the like, this facing or exhibit in the present instance being formed of two layers of the crackers, (numbered 25,)

these crackers being built up against the transparent pane of glass 13 and within an encompassing fiange 26, which affords a suitable frame for receiving and holding the exhibit. The fiange 26 extends inwardly from the front plate 17 and forms a continuous frame surrounding the exhibit-opening 12 and receiving both the exhibit 25 and the pane of glass 13. The frame formed by the fiange 26 is entirely open at its inner end, so as to properly and effectually receive the pane 13 and'exhibit 25 and enable the attendant to properly build up the facing or exhibit, and after the pane of glass and exhibit 25 have been given their proper position within the frame formed by lthe Hange 26 the said frame at its inner end will be closed by the application of a piece of cardboard or other material 27 thereto, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this backing of cardboard or other material being' detachably held in place by means of the iexible fingers 28, secured at one end upon the flange 26 and at their other end being free to be bent over upon the cardboard or other backing 27. The backing 27 will press vagainst the inner wall of the exhibit 25 and preserve the integrity of said exhibit, and at any time it may be desired to renew or vary the exhibit 25 the front 11 will be detached from the body 10, and the fingers 28 will be turned upwardly from the backing 27, so that said backing and the crackers, cakes, or other material held by it may be convenientl y removed from the frame formed by the flange 26.

1t is to be observed that the crackers and the like which are to be sold by the grocer are packed within the body or box proper, 10, and are excluded from the front 11 and that the exhibit crackers and the like, 25, are carried by the front -11, being held therein in line with the glass pane 13 by means of the flange 26 and backing 27, said backing 27, with its cooperating parts, preservingthe integrity of the facing or exhibit 25.

Upon the application of the front 11 to the body 10 the surrounding flanges or edges 18 of said front form, in effect, a continuation of the rectangular surfaces of the body 10, and prior to the delivery of the receptacle 10, with its contents, to the grocer the sides of the entire box will be covered with suitable labels, preferably covering the joint between the front 11 and body 10 and extending over the area of the sides of the entire box. The top of the box will also be covered by a label. After the grocer has sold the contents of the body 10 the box will be returned to the manufacturer of the crackers or other goods and he will detach the front 11 from the body 10 and subject the box to thorough cleansing and relabeling and renew the exhibit facing 25. The exposure-aperture 12 in the plate 17 of the front 11 is preferably circular, and upon said plate 17, around the opening 12, may be applied a suitable ornamental label. The

frame formed by the iiange 26, carried by the front 11 and encompassing' the opening 12 therein, is preferably rectangular for convenience in building up and maintaining the exhibit 25 and preventing the exposure of any cut or broken edges of the crackers at said opening 12, the cut edges of the crackers fitting against the walls of the fiange 26 being concealed behind those portions of the plate 17 adjacent tothe edges of the opening 12.

The crackers constituting the exhibit facing 25 are not to be sold by the grocer, nor is the manufacturer to charge the grocer for the same, and one of the purposes of the invention is to so provide an exhibit facing that the manufacturer will be able to give the crackers constituting the same to the grocer.

In accordance with my invention 1 preserve the general form and capacity of the cracker tins or boxes at present in use, but avoid all of the objections hereinbefore mentioned iucident to the use of such tins, or boxes and in addition produce a box or receptacle possessing in itself distinct advantages to the manufacturer of the crackers, the grocer, and the customer.

The fact that the cover 14 is hinged at its rear edge is of advantage, because by reason thereof a grocer need not pull the entire box from a shelf in order to reach the contents of the body 10, and it will be observed on reference to the drawings that the front depending lip or flange of the hinged cover 14 extends downwardly between the body 10 and front 11, whereby the cover 14 may be conveniently and properly used to close the top of the body 10 without extending outward upon the surfaces of the front 11. The knob or handle on the serew`20 is of great advantage in enabling tl'ielconvenient withdrawal of the box from the she f.

I have described hereinbefore that the front 11 may be detachably secured to the body 10 by means of the hook 19 and screw 20; but my invention is not limited to any special means for detachably securing the front 11 to the body 10, for it is obvious that various mechanical devices may be employed for this purpose. For instance, a line of solder might be employed for connecting the edges of the front 11 to the edges of the body 10, and the manufacturer of crackers upon the return of the box could easily detach the front 11 by applying a hot iron to said line of solder. It is desirable that the front 11 should be firmly secured to the body 10, so that during the handling of the box the front 1l may not become detached therefrom; but it is also desirable that the front 11 may be detachably secured to the body 10, so that the manufacturer of IIO crackers may be enabled to remove said front and cleanse all parts of the box and renew the exhibit facing 25. The special form and construction shown of the front 11 is of great advantage, because it enables the convenient buildingup of the exhibit facing and the application of the front carrying the facing to the body 10. The exhibit facing 25 will remain intact during all the period that the box may remain on the shelf of the grocer, because said facing is maintained in the front 11 independently of the interior of the body 10, and the removal of the crackers from the body 10 will have no effect upon the facing 25. The contents of the body 10 are kept in good condition, because they are not exposed to any light, air, or dust which may enter around the edges of thefront opening 12, the contents of the body 10 being eifectually separated by the front wall of the body 10 from the chamber formed within the front 11.

Ordinarily the crackers,biscuits, and the like are intended to conceal the backing 27;

but in some instances, especially when thev crackers or biscuit are placed on edge, as when they are severed and disclose their interior, there Will be gaps between the crackers or biscuits, through which the backing 27 may be seen, and insuch instances the backing 27 will be given a mirror or reiiecting surface to enhance the value of the exhibit facing.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent` is- 1. The rectangular tin box having the front, rear and side walls and bottom and provided on its upper end with the cover, combined with the independent detachable vertical front structure applied close to the outer side of said front wall to hold, independently of the box proper, the exhibit facing, the said front comprising the plate 17 having an opening 12 therein, the transparent pane 13 closing said opening, the iiange 26 carried by said plate at its inner side and forming a frame encompassing said opening 12 and adapted to hold the exhibit 25, and the backing 27 for closing the inner end of said frame after said exhibit has been built therein; substantially as set forth.

2. r1`he box having the front, rear and side walls and bottom and provided on its upper end with a cover adapted to be opened and closed at will and having a front depending lip extending downwardly over the upper edge of said front wall, combinedwith the independent detachable front applied to the exterior of the front end of said box and having the exposure-opening and transparent pane and affording' in line with said pane a chamber to receive the exhibit facing, said independent front comprising the front plate 17 and the encompassing flange 18, the latter being in line with the adjacent surfaces of the boxand at the upper front edge vof the box being separated from the latter to afford space for the said front depending lip on said cover; substantially as set forth.

3. The rectangular tin box having the. front, rear and side walls and bottom and provided on its upper end with the cover, combined with the independent detachable vertical front structure applied close to the outer side of said front wall to hold, independently of the box proper, the exhibit facing, the said front comprising the plate 17 having an opening 12 therein, the transparent pane 13 closing said opening, the flange 26 carried by said plate at its inner side and forming a frame encompassing said opening 12 and adapted to hold the exhibit 25, and the backing 27 for clos-l said front wall to hold, independently of ther box proper, the exhibit facing, the said front comprisingthe plate 17 having an opening 12 therein and provided at its outer edge with the flange 18 projecting inwardly toward the said box, the transparent pane 13 closing said opening, the flange 26 carried by said plate at its inner side and forming a frame encompassing said opening 12 and adapted to hold the exhibit 25, and the backing 27 for closing the inner end of-said frame after said kexhibit has been built therein; substantially as set forth.

5. The box or receptacle having the ltop cover, the front to receive the exhibit facing and having the exposure-aperture and transparent pane, the hook and loop-for connect ing at one point said front and box, and the screw and threaded socket for connecting at another point said front and box; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New IOO York and State of New York, this 30th day of December, A. D. 1902.

BENJAMIN B. VANDER VEER. iitnessesz ARTHUR. MARION, CHAs. C. GILL. 

